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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

J. A. FORBES.

Automatic Soldering Machine. No. 238,224. Patented March 1,1881.

N PETERS. PHOTWUTHOGRAPHER, WAQHINGTDK D O.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. FORBES. Automatic Soldering Machine.

(N 0 Model.)

japan/02? NINE-RS. PMOTO-LITNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. FORBES, OF DovEE, DELAWARE, AssIeNoE 0F ONE-HALF T0 FREDERIO A.WILLIAMS, OF sAME PLACE.

. AUTOMATIC SOLDERlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,224, dated March 1,1881.

Application filed January 3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat 1, JOHN ALEXANDER FORBES, of Dover, in the county ofKent and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in an Automatic Soldering-Machine; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of automatic machinery anddevioesfor soldering cans, tinware generally, and other packages.

My objects are, first, to provide a solderingmachine which will dispenseas far as possible with hand-labor in making cans; and, second, toprovide suitable mechanism for soldering two or more seams at one andthe same time. My devices accomplish this by delivering the unsolderedcans to the machine, soldering the heads upon the body of the can, andremoving the soldered can from the machine, all by antomatic mechanicalmeans, without stoppage of the machinery or intervention of hand-labor.

Figure l is a side view of the machine in working position. Fig. 2 is afront view of the machine, the feeding apparatus 0 being removed. Fig. 3is a sectional view of the interior of the machine, illustrating thesoldering operation only. Fig. 4 represents the contrivance forregulating the flow and discharge of molten solder.

In Fig. 1, A is a frame on each side of the machine to furnish bearingsfor the several 1 shafts s s s s s s s and s O is an inclined table, oran endless band or other automatic device, for feeding cans to themachine.

K is an endless band or other device for the automatic removal of cansfrom the machine.

M is a soldering-iron; Z, a lamp or gasjet for heating the pot and iron.

Y is a can moving to the machine; Y, a can in process of soldering, andY a can leaving the machine.

Upon the frame A are the shafts S to S inclusive, carrying the followingwheels: S

(No model.)

carrying the driving-wheel B, to which the power is applied by belt orcrank; S and S carrying the wheels 0 and D, to which are attachedrollers for guiding and rotating the can; S carrying the wheel F, towhich are attached the disks P, for guiding and rotating the can E 3 Scarrying the wheel I, for raising the barL and also rotating the arms g;S carrying the wheel driving the fan R; S and S carrying the endlessband K upon the rollers J and J.

L is a bar, carrying on its upper end a box which works vertically orobliquely in a slot in the frame A, and carries with it the shaft S thewheel D, and the roller D D.

t is a projection upon the wheel I, which lifts the bar L by contactwith the pin 1.

r is a gate for regulating the flow of solder through the iron M.

T is a thumb-screw for adjusting the iron M to the wear from therevolving cans.

In Fig. 2 the can rests upon the solderingirons M. The irons M M aresupported by a flange on the inner edge of the frame A. The can is heldin position by the rollers l) D and O 0, (see Fig. 3,) and by the disk Pat each end of the can. The cam 1) upon the shaft S and the lever 0,working in the grooved wheel cl, give a horizontal movement to one ofthe disks P, thereby pressing P against or removing it from the can. Thereciprocating disk P on the left is rotated by the wheel F on its shaftS, which, in turn, is operated by the wheel 0 on the shaft S of theroller 0 0. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) The shaft S has a wheel, 0, on eachend. The cam 0!, upon S is connected with the soldering-iron M by thelevers h, k, and e, and operates two valves, 1 and r (shown in Fig. 4,)for regulating'the charge of molten solder. The two sets of valves r andr are operated together by attaching the levers e and e, respectively,to two of the valves which are not opposite each other-one lever e tothe valve r nearest the pot N, and the and D D. M is made to fit thecurved surface of the can.

In Fig. 4 the alternate movements of the valves 1' and r permit thedischarge of a given quantity of solder at regular intervals. The lever11 is connected beneath with the lever e in Fig. 2.

The operation ofthe machine is as follows: A number of cans being placedon the feeding-table 0, they are carried singly to the machine by meansof gravity, an endless band, an arm similar to g upon the shaft S arevolving wheel, or

any other contrivance for moving them auto-.

matically to the soldering-irons M. Power being applied to thedriving-wheel B is transmitted to the severalshafts and wheels, as shownin Fig. 1. The disk P on one side being drawn back, and the bar L, withits roller D D, being raised by the mechanism already described, a canis admitted to the space between the disks P and the rollers D D and O(J. The projection 2' now releasing the pin .1, the bar L is dropped andthe roller D D is pressed downward upon the can by the action of thespring L L, and the can is thus pressed against the soldering-irons M.The disk P on one side is now pressed against one end of the can, whichis firmly held in position by the two disks P. These two disks and therollers O O and l) D, revolving, rotate the can upon the solderingironsM by means of the power derived from the wheels F, O, and D. Eachsuccessive portion of the seam is thus brought into contact with therespective soldering-irons at each end, and the two seams are solderedat one and the same time by the metal flowing from the aperture m.Duringthe rotation ofthecan the blowers R are fanning thenewly-solderedseams, thereby cooling the solder upon them, and thuspreparing the cans for immediate handling or moving. The disk P is nowwithdrawn from the can by apparatus above explained. At the same instantthe roller D D is raised, as described, and the arms g and g carry thecan forward over the roller 0 O to the endless chain K, or an inclinedplane or other device for removing the can, and the can is thus carriedaway from the machine.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a soldering-machine, the combination of an inclined table, 0, thearms 9 g on the shaft S with the roller 0 O and the endless band K andmeans for operating the same, substantially as described and set forth.

2. The automatic alternately-reciprocating disk P and the clutchd on theshaft 8*, together with the lever c, the cam b, the wheel G on the shaftS in combination with the wheel F and the otherdisk, P, on the shaft 8,and connected means for rotating the shafts, substantially-as describedand set forth.

3. In combination with the solder-reservoirs N N, the two stationary andperforated soldering-irons M M, each provided with means for supporting,guiding, and soldering a can, substantially as described and set forth.

4. The combination of the two disks P P and their shafts with twosolder-pots, N N, and two perforated soldering-irons, M M, curved ontheir upper edge to receive, support, and guide a can, substantially asdescribed and set forth.

5. The combination of the roller D D and means for operating itwith thesoldering-irons M M, for holding, guiding, and rotating a can,substantially as described and set forth.

6. The combination of the rollers O O and D D and means for operatingthem with the two soldering-irons M M, substantially as described andset forth.

7. The combination of the rollers G G and D D and the disks P and P andconnected means for rotating them with the solderingirons M and M,substantially as described and set forth.

8. The bar L, the spring L L, the pin l, the projection i, and wheel Ion shaft S in combination with the rollers O O and D D, the disks P andP, and connected means for revolving the several shafts, and the irons Mand M, substantially as described and set forth.

9. The combination of the pots N N and the soldering-irons M M, with thevalves 1' and V with mechanism for operating the valves in the saidirons, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. FORBES.

Witnesses:

ALEXANDER GooDWIN, JAMES B. Bares.

